List of U.S. state minerals, rocks, stones and gemstones Information

Leaders of states in the U.S. which have significant mineral deposits often create a state mineral, rock,
stone or gemstone to promote interest in their natural resources, history, tourism, etc. Not every state has an official state mineral, rock, stone and/or gemstone, however.

In the chart below, a year which is listed within parentheses represents the year during which that mineral, rock, stone or gemstone was officially adopted as a state symbol or emblem.

See also

Endnotes

^ California in 1965 became the first state to name an official state rock. A 2010 effort led by State Senator
Gloria J. Romero, a Democrat from
Los Angeles, sought to remove
serpentine from its perch as the state's official stone. Organizations such as the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization have supported the move as the olive green rock is a source of
chrysotile, a form of
asbestos that can cause
mesothelioma and other forms of cancer. Geologists have rallied to oppose the bill, arguing that there is no way to be harmed from casual exposure to serpentine.[55] The bill did not reach a final vote and died in committee at the end of August 2010. In 1986, California named
benitoite as its state gemstone, a form of the mineral barium titanium silicate that is unique to the Golden State and only found in gem quality in
San Benito County.[56]

^ Colorado is the only state whose geological symbols reflect the national flag's colors: red (rhodochrosite), white (yule marble), and blue (aquamarine).

^ Florida's State Gem, moonstone was adopted to highlight Florida's role in the United States'
Lunar program which first landed astronauts on the Moon.[57]

^ Massachusetts has 3 official state rocks: State Historical Rock (
Plymouth Rock), State Explorer Rock (
Dighton Rock), and State Building and Monument Stone (
Granite).

^ In 2009,
West Virginia named
bituminous coal as its official state rock, in a resolution that noted that the coal industry plays an "integral part of the economic and social fabric of the state". West Virginia joined
Kentucky and
Utah which also recognize coal as a state mineral or rock. The drive to name coal as an official state symbol was initiated by a high school student from
Wharncliffe, West Virginia, who initiated her project at a school fair and collected 2,500 signatures on a petition that was submitted to legislators.[60]